Boko Haram: FG to investigates sale of children in IDP camps

The Federal Government has started investigating the alleged
trafficking of children in the camps of internally displaced persons.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr.
Mohammed Adoke (SAN), who stated this in a statement in Abuja on
Friday, said that government's attention had been drawn to an article
published by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting.
He said that the article alleged that hundreds of Nigerian children
were being trafficked from some of the internally displaced persons'
camps set up to cater for people displaced as a result of the
insurgency in the North-East.
Adoke stated, "The Federal Government views these allegations with
serious concern as it places a high premium on the welfare and well
being of her citizens.
"Consequently, an inter-ministerial committee comprising of relevant
agencies and security personnel has been set up to among other things;
investigate the matter with a view to holding accountable all those
found culpable in these nefarious acts and recommend appropriate
measures to forestall future occurrence."
He added that government had also taken steps to strengthen security
around all registered IDP Camps.
According to him, as an interim measure, the National Agency for the
Prohibition of Traffic in Persons has been directed to conduct
enlightenment campaigns for care-givers in the camps.
"Government is determined to prevent acts that will further traumatise
its citizens who have found themselves in these camps due to
circumstances beyond their control," he added.
He said that government was committed to the task of providing
protection and assistance to victims of armed conflicts and internal
strife.
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Adoke said government would ensure adequate security of lives and
properties of her citizenry.
The International Centre for Investigative Reporting, had in the
report on January 27 described the IDP camps as fertile grounds for
child trafficking
It reported that Kingsley Ogar, staff of an international donor
agency, who does not want his organisation named, confirmed that child
trafficking is rife in the IDP camps.
Ogar stated, "We had a case in Gombe where a group of persons came
from the South, Lagos or Ibadan, we can't be so sure, paid some people
and took away children from the camp.
"We went to deliver relief items in this particular IDP Camp and took
a census so that we could come back the following day, which we did,
only to realise that over a dozen of them were missing. They were
mostly young children between the ages of 5 and 15.
"Upon investigation we discovered that some "lords" in the camp were
in partnership with the Lagos people to sell the kids.
"We reported to the police (Gombe State command), but we do not know
whether they have done anything", he said.
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